Lecrae and the Great Commission

I have been a fan of Lecrae since Real Talk but lately I have really grown to love and appreciate his ministry! He is one of very few Christian artists that are visibly living out the Great Commission: Go and make disciples of all nations.

Not many Christian artists can break out of that label. (But then again, not all artists are called to reach the non-Christian). Of course, it isn’t a bad label; but it’s not one that’s going to reach the unbeliever. Let’s face it, people don’t want to be beat in the head with the gospel. They don’t want to hear that they are damned to hell fire unless they accept Christ. They don’t even want to hear that there is a God that can help them through their problems when life looks like it’s going downhill. People want real life; they want honesty. Unfortunately, many feel they can’t get that from a church full of hypocrites so they don’t turn to the church. Lecrae understands that.

With Lecrae receiving more mainstream recognition, he has now been afforded the opportunity to reach those that are not believers.

Other artists have tried to go mainstream to reach the un-churched; unfortunately a majority of them end up compromising the gospel. There is a thin line between meeting people where they are and conforming to their way of living. Very few Christian artists have mastered an effective way to minister the gospel in mainstream. Not only has Lecrae mastered it, he has done so in a way that is non-threatening. I mean, look at Jesus himself! He didn’t go through town saying “I am Jesus follow me or else!”. He met people where they were; He loved on them; He understood them and didn’t criticize. That is how people came to know and follow Jesus.

Lecrae is doing the same thing. He understands that people don’t listen to church folk because of all the hypocrisy. That is why I so appreciate the single off his mixtape. From the start he’s letting people know, Look I know there’s hypocrisy in the church, but I want you to look past the flaws of the church and get to Jesus. That’s a great message and it’s going to capture the unbeliever who is looking for a Christian to agree that the church has many, many flaws. Nobody wants to talk about it. It’s been swept under the rug for too long and I pray that this is going to open up the discussion and bring the issue to the forefront. I am so excited to hear Church Clothes, the mixtape he is releasing next Thursday and I pray it does two things. First, I pray that his mixtape allows people, namely the unbeliever, to look past the church and see Jesus. Unfortunately, the church isn’t always a good representation of Christ. Second, while Lecrae has said this mixtape isn’t really for his Christian fans, I pray that we listen to it as well and are moved to make changes in our own walk. The world is looking at us and it is time we are more Christ-like.

While some people are questioning Lecrae’s move to mainstream I firmly believe this is one of the best things he can do. Not just for his career, but for the Kingdom. My prayer is that he continues to focus on the Great Commission and doesn’t get caught up in the mainstream lifestyle that he has preached against. Let’s continue to lift up our brother Lecrae, his wife, and the whole Reach Record family!